Method and system for waterproofing a mobile device

ABSTRACT

A method for waterproofing a mobile device and a waterproofed mobile device are provided. The method is designed to keep the internal components from elements, such as water, the can damage the mobile device. The method adds a protective coating of a lightweight sealable, heat shrinkable plastic to the internal components of the mobile device and heat shrinks the ends of the of the a lightweight sealable, heat shrinkable plastic together to waterproof the internal components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and system for water proofing. More particularly, the present invention relates a method and system for water proofing mobile devices.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of mobile devices has increased dramatically over the years. These devices have a broad range of functionality and a number of different internal components that implement the functions of the mobile device. In many instances, the cost to purchase a mobile device is quite considerable. It is not atypically of a purchaser of a mobile device to also purchase insurance for the mobile device in order to protect the investment made in the purchase of the mobile device. The insurance allows the owner of a mobile device to be reimbursed for the cost of the mobile device or receive a replacement mobile device should some unfortunate accident befall the mobile device.

One accident that typically happens to mobile devices, such as PDAs and mobile telephones, is that they can be dropped into water or exposed to other damaging elements. For example, once water enters a mobile device, it quickly does damage to the internal components, such as printed circuit board, battery, connectors, LCD and the like, of the mobile device rendering the device inoperable. As a result, the owner of a water damaged mobile device is required to utilize the insurance purchased to replace the unit. In some instances, there may be a cost with obtaining a replacement unit even if there is insurance involved.

There is a need for a method of waterproofing a mobile device. There is a need for the method of waterproofing to extend the life of the mobile device. There is a need for the method to be implemented either prior to, or subsequent to, the purchase of a mobile device. There is a need for the method of waterproofing the mobile device to not prevent reception. There is a need for the method to add a protective coating of lightweight sealable, heat shrinkable plastic to the internal components of the mobile device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A brief summary of the present invention is given as follows to provide a basic understanding of certain aspects of the present invention. But it shall be comprehended that this summary is not an exhaustive summary of the present invention. It does not intend to define the key part of the present invention, or limit the scope of the present invention. The purpose is only to give some concepts about the present invention in a simplified form, as a preface of the subsequent detailed descriptions. For a person skilled in the art, the following aspects of the present invention and the technical solution defined by the accompanied independent claims can be in any possible appropriate combinations with the examples in the present invention and/or the dependent claims.

A method for waterproofing a mobile device and a waterproofed mobile device are provided. The method is designed to keep the internal components from elements, such as water, the can damage the mobile device. The method adds a protective coating of a lightweight sealable, heat shrinkable plastic to the internal components of the mobile device and heat shrinks the ends of the of the a lightweight sealable, heat shrinkable plastic together to waterproof the internal components.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the method includes separating the front outer casing and back outer casing, removing at least one internal component from the front outer casing and the back outer casing, wrapping a piece of light weight heat shrinkable plastic around the entire at least one internal component, and heating the piece of light weight heat shrinkable plastic to seal it around the at least one component. The at least one internal component includes a circuit board, a battery, a connector, a LCD, a microphone, and a speaker. The light weight heat shrinkable plastic is wrapped around the at least one internal component in a manner that ensures that the light weight heat shrinkable plastic completely covers all sides of the at least one component.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the front outer casing and the back outer casing are separated without damaging any connections for the mobile device. The connection includes ribbons and information transfer cables.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a waterproofed mobile device comprising includes a front outer casing, a back outer casing, and at least one internal component wrapped with a piece of heat shrinkable plastic that has been heat shrunk to seal the at least one internal component within the piece of heat shrinkable plastic. The at least one internal component is sealed within the front outer casing and the back outer casing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above described features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated with reference to the detailed description and appended figures in which:

FIGS. 1A-1D depict exemplary views of a mobile device prior to disassembly for waterproofing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary diagram of a disassembled mobile device prior to waterproofing.

FIGS. 3A-3B depicts a front and back view of an internal component of a mobile device prior to waterproofing.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flow diagram of a process for waterproofing the internal components of a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A depicts a view of an internal component of a mobile device when a piece of heat shrinkable plastic is being placed around the internal component during waterproofing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B depicts a view of an internal component of a mobile device after waterproofing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention is now described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show embodiments of the present invention. The present invention, however, may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to embodiments set forth herein. Appropriately, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention.

A method and system for waterproofing a mobile device are provided. The method is designed to keep the internal components from elements, such as water, the can damage the mobile device. The method adds a protective coating of a lightweight sealable, heat shrinkable plastic to the internal components of the mobile device and heat shrinks the ends of the of the a lightweight sealable, heat shrinkable plastic together to waterproof the internal components.

Exemplary views of a mobile device 100 prior to disassembly for waterproofing according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 1A-1D. The mobile device 100 can be any device that includes internal components that would be damaged when exposed to elements, such as water, dust and the like.

An exemplary diagram of a mobile device 200 that has been disassembled for waterproofing is shown if FIG. 2. In the embodiment FIG. 2, the mobile device includes front outer casing 202, back outer casing 204 and internal component 206. In an embodiment of the present invention the internal component 206 is the circuit board for the mobile device. Additional internal components (not shown) include battery, connectors, LCD and the like. Each of the internal components should be removed carefully when the front outer casing 202 and back outer casing 204 are separated so as to not damage any connections including, but not limited to, ribbons and information transfer cables.

Exemplary views of the internal component 206 of the mobile device 200 shown in FIG. 2 prior to waterproofing are shown in FIGS. 3A-3B. In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the internal component 302 is a front view of a circuit board. In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the internal component 304 is a back view of a circuit board.

An exemplary flow diagram of a process for waterproofing a mobile device is shown in FIG. 4. In step 402, the front outer casing 202 and back outer casing 204 of the mobile device 200 are separated. The casings should be separated so as to not damage any connections including, but not limited to, ribbons and information transfer cables. In step 404, the internal components 206 of the mobile device are removed. Internal component includes, but is not limited to, a circuit board, battery, connector, LCD and the like.

In step 406, a piece of light weight heat shrinkable plastic is wrapped around the internal component as shown in FIG. 5A. The light weight heat shrinkable plastic is wrapped around the internal component in a manner that ensures that the light weight heat shrinkable plastic completely covers all sides of the internal component (i.e., top, bottom from and back). The size of the light weight heat shrinkable plastic should be sufficient to extend beyond each of the sides of the internal component of the mobile device so that there is excess light weight heat shrinkable plastic at each of the sides of the internal device. The composition of the light weight heat shrinkable plastic should not create interference of signals and the functions of the mobile device or cause the device to overheat.

In step 408, the light weight heat shrinkable plastic is heat shrunk to seal the excess light weight heat shrinkable plastic at each of the sides of the internal component. When completed the internal component 502 has light weight heat shrinkable plastic heat shrunk around the internal component with sealed excess light weight heat shrinkable plastic at each of the sides of the internal component as shown in FIG. 5B.

Steps 406 and 408 are to be repeated for each internal component removed from the mobile device, such as battery terminals, LCD, connection ports, and optional input and output sources. In an embodiment of the present invention, the battery terminal ports should be protected by the plastic so that no fluid enters where the connection ports touch the battery. In an embodiment of the present invention, the internal component that connects the circuit board and the display screen is lined with the light weight heat shrinkable plastic. In step 410, the internal components are inserted into the casing of the mobile device. In step 412, the front outer casing 202 and back outer casing 204 of the mobile device 200 are connected. The mobile device is capable of operating for its original intended uses and used as originally intended after heat shrinking the heat shrinkable plastic around one or more of the internal components.

While specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that changes can be made to those embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A method for waterproofing a mobile device comprising: separating the front outer casing and back outer casing; removing at least one internal component from the front outer casing and the back outer casing; wrapping a piece of light weight heat shrinkable plastic around the entire at least one internal component; and heating the piece of light weight heat shrinkable plastic to seal it around the at least one component.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the front outer casing and the back outer casing are separated without damaging any connections for the mobile device.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the connection include ribbons and information transfer cables.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one internal component includes a circuit board, a battery, a connector, a LCD, a microphone, and a speaker.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light weight heat shrinkable plastic is wrapped around the at least one internal component in a manner that ensures that the light weight heat shrinkable plastic completely covers all sides of the at least one component.
 6. A waterproofed mobile device comprising: a front outer casing; a back outer casing; and at least one internal component wrapped with a piece of heat shrinkable plastic that has been heat shrunk to seal the at least one internal component within the piece of heat shrinkable plastic; wherein the at least one internal component is secured within the front outer casing and the back outer casing. 